Corning boys bowlers finish season at 12-0

VESTAL — The Corning boys bowling team punctuated its first-ever undefeated regular season and STAC West title in record-setting fashion Wednesday at Midway Lanes.

With Ben Toby and Connor LeBarron each surpassing the 700 series plateau, Corning set a new school record, knocking over 3,317 pins en route to a 5-0 shutout of Vestal.

Toby bounced back in a big way, bowling a season-high 718 series, just one day after being relegated to the sub-lanes after his first game. With a new ball in hand, Toby turned in games of 220, 267 and 231 against Vestal to lead the Hawks’ record-shattering performance.

“He brought a ball today that wasn’t even in his bag the day before,” Corning head coach Eric Kizis said. “He brought a different ball and bowled his first 700 series of the season.”

LeBarron put together a steady 706 series, stringing games of 246, 224 and 236. LeBarron finished the season with a game average of 210, fourth best in the STAC.

Corning’s Ben Hall amassed a 656 series (231, 211, 214), while teammate Anthony Evan rolled a 620 series (196, 205, 219). Donovan Austin-Reed turned in a 617 series (216, 185, 216) for the Hawks, who finished their first perfect regular season at 12-0.

Corning will take part in the STAC championships Monday, Feb. 3 at Laurel Lanes in Binghamton. The Hawks will return to Midway Lanes in Vestal for the Section IV championships Feb. 8.

“The nice thing is our kids are going to a place where they finished the season so strong,” Kizis said. “I’m pretty excited. I can’t express the amazing seasons these guys have had. We’ve had a bunch of unselfish kids. I don’t care what sport – the only way you can have this kind of success is to be unselfish.”

Girls Bowling STAC Corning 5, Vestal 0

VESTAL — Amanda Becker put together a 553 series Wednesday at Midway Lanes to lead Corning to a 5-0 shutout of Vestal.

Becker rolled games of 207, 180 and 166 to pace the Hawks.

Corning’s Hailey Blencowe bowled a 552 series (202, 190, 160) and teammate Julie Collins turned in a 550 series (204, 189, 157). The Hawks got a 180 game from Brittany Millhollen.

Corning (7-5) knocked down 2,608 pins the win.

The Hawks will compete at sectionals Feb. 7 in Vestal.

Skiing LCAA Meet

SWAIN — The Bath Rams earned an overall first place at Wednesday’s giant slalom at Swain.

Bath was led by seniors Ellen Eichensehr, Amber Northup and Hannah Spencer in the 10-team event. Eichensehr was fifth overall with a combined time of 1:35.78. Northup was eighth with a 1:41.32, while Spencer was 11th overall (1:49.20).

“It was a really cold night, but the course was nice,” Bath coach Ron Smith said.

The Rams will return to Swain on Wednesday.

Girls basketball Nonleague Wellsville 57, Hammondsport 50

WELLSVILLE — Jordan Pearson scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half and Kelly Kane nearly had a triple-double to lead Wellsville to a 57-50 win over Hammondsport on Tuesday night.

Kane finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and five steals and Pearson also had four steals and four assists for Wellsville (7-5).

Lori Gordon led Hammondsport (6-6) with 17 points and 17 rebounds, while Olivia Makarick had 12 points, Korynne House had 11, and Emily Eckel added 10.

Hammondsport lost despite hitting seven 3-pointers.

Wellsville finished with 16 steals and recovered after a poor-shooting first quarter. The Lady Lions ended the first half on a 6-0 run led by as much as eight in the third quarter.

"We had some trouble taking care of the ball," said Hammondsport head coach Kelley Meade. "Our numbers also hurt us not being able to go very far onto our bench and I think we kind of ran out of a little steam."

However, Hammondsport rallied with a 10-2 run to briefly tie the game on a 3-pointer from House. Wellsville took back the lead at the end of the third and again pushed its lead to eight in the fourth. The Lady Lakers stormed back and a 3-pointer by Eckel with 2:40 left cut Wellsville's lead to three.

Rayanna Anderson then followed with a pair of driving lay-ups over the final 90 seconds to help put the game away.